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nefs to refift an infiduous invitation. Roderigo's fufpicious credulity, and impatient fubmiffion to the cheats which he fees practifed upon him, and which by perfuafion he fuffers to be repeated, exhibit a ftrong picture of a weak mind betrayed by unlawful defires to a falfe friend; and the virtue of Emilia is fuch as we often find worn loofely, but not caft off, eafy to commit fmall crimes, but quickened and alarmed at atrocious villanies.

The fcenes from the beginning to the end are bufy, varied by happy interchanges, and regularly promoting the progreffion of the ftory; and the narrative in the end, though it tells but what is known already, yet is neceffary to produce the death of Cthello.

Had the scene opened in Cyprus, and the preceding incidents been occafionally related, there had been little wanting to a drama of the moft exact and fcrupulous regularity.

ΑΝ

ACCOUNT

OF THE

HARLEIAN LIBRARY.

T

O folicit a fubfcription for a Catalogue of Books expofed to fale, is an attempt for which some apology cannot but be neceffary; for few would willingly contribute to the expenfe of volumes, by which neither inftruction nor entertainment could be afforded, from which only the bookfeller could expect advantage, and of which the only ufe muft ceafe, at the dif perfion of the library.

Nor could the reasonableness of an univerfal rejection of our propofal be denied, if this catalogue were to be compiled with no other view, than that of promoting the fale of the books which it enumerates, and drawn up with that inaccuracy and confufion which may be found in those that are daily published.

But our defign, like our propofal, is uncommon, and to be profecuted at a very uncommon expenfe: it being intended, that the books fhall be diftributed into their diftinct claffes, and every clafs ranged with fome regard to the age of the writers; that every

book

book fhall be accurately defcribed; that the peculia ritics of editions fhall be remarked, and obfervations from the authors of literary hiftory occafionally interfperfed; that, by this catalogue, we may inform pofterity of the excellence and value of this great collection, and promote the knowledge of fcarce books, and elegant editions. For this purpofe men of letters are engaged, who cannot even be fupplied with antanuenfes, but at an expenfe above that of a common.catalogue.

To fhew that this collection deferves a particular degree of regard from the learned and the ftudious, that it excels any library that was ever yet offered to public fale in the value as well as number of the volumes which it contains; and that therefore this catalogue will not be of less use to men of letters, than those of the Thuanian, Heinfian, or Barberinian libraries, it may not be improper to exhibit a general account of the different claffes, as they are naturally divided by the feveral fciences.

By this method we can indeed exhibit only a general idea, at once magnificent and confufed; an idea of the writings of many nations, collected from diftant parts of the world, difcovered fometimes by chance, and fometimes by curiofity, amidst the rubbish of forfaken monafteries, and the repofitories of ancient families, and brought hither from every part, as to the univerfal receptacle of learning.

It will be no unpleafing effect of this account, if thofe that fhall happen to perufe it, fhould be inclined by it to reflect on the character of the late proprictors, and to pay fome tribute of veneration

to

to their ardour for literature, to that generous and exalted curiofity which they gratified with inceffant fearches and immenfe expenfe, and to which they dedicated that time, and that fuperfluity of fortune, which many others of their rank employ in the pursuit of contemptible amusements, or the gratification of guilty paffions. And, furely, every man, who confiders learning as ornamental and advantageous to the community, muft allow them the honour of publick benefactors, who have introduced amongst us authors not hitherto well known, and added to the literary treasures of their native country.

That our catalogue will excite any other man to emulate the collectors of this library, to prefer books and manuscripts to equipage and luxury, and to forfake noise and diverfion for the conversation of the learned, and the fatisfaction of extenfive knowledge, we are very far from prefuming to hope; but shall make no fcruple to affert, that, if any man fhould happen to be seized with fuch laudable ambition, he may find in this catalogue hints and informations, which are not eafily to be met with; he will difcover, that the boafted Bodleian library is very far from a perfect model, and that even the learned Fabricius cannot completely instruct him in the early editions of the claffic writers.

But the collectors of libraries cannot be numerous; and, therefore, catalogues cannot very properly be recommended to the publick, if they had not a more general and frequent ufe, an ufe which every student has experienced, or neglected to his lofs. By the means of catalogues only can it be known, what has been written on every part of learning, and the ha

zard

zard avoided of encountering difficulties which have already been cleared, difcuffing queftions which have already been decided, and digging in mines of literature which former ages have exhaufsted.

How often this has been the fate of ftudents, every man of letters can declare; and, perhaps, there are very few who have not fometimes valued as new dif coveries, made by themfelves, thofe obfervations, which have long fince been published, and of which the world therefore will refufe them the praife; nor can the refufal be cenfured as any enormous violation of juftice; for, why fhould they not forfeit by their ignorance, what they might claim by their fagacity?

To illuftrate this remark, by the mention of obscure names, would not much confirm it; and to vilify for this purpose the memory of men truly great, would be to deny them the reverence which they may juftly claim from those whom their writings have inftructed. May the shade at leaft, of one great English critick reft without disturbance; and may no man prefume to infult his memory, who wants his learning, his reafon, or his wit.

From the vexatious difappointment of meeting reproach, where praife is expected, every man will certainly defire to be fecured; and therefore that book will have fome claim to his regard, from which he may receive informations of the labours of his predeceffors, fuch as a catalogue of the Harleian library will copioufly afford him.

Nor is the ufe of catalogues of lefs importance to those whom curiofity has engaged in the study of literary hiftory, and who think the intellectual revolutions of the world more worthy of their attention, than the

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